Starling

[Pops]

The tray is only 4 inches wide

[Mike Parr]

Re: Starling

Pops Ive set up a bird table and ive got a few visitors...............oh and 3 dogs that bark at all the pidgeons that call...........now ive tried to take some pics but just cant seem to get there with a 300mm lens 35mm eqv. we have what I think is a Collered Dove who comes a calling........... apart from a bigger lens any ideas.
By the way like the second pic best reminds me of my family at a buffet

[Pops]

Re: Starling

300mm should be ok but they have to get used to seeing you in the garden and that can take time and a whole load of patience.
For a shortcut get yourself a radio remote. You can set the camera up and take your pics from way off.

The collared dove is smaller than the pigeon. If you have one another will be close by. They pair for life.
I have just the one dog but she loves the birds and I have seen her sat on the lawn with blackbirds and a robin just a couple of feet away.

[Jocelyn Walker]

Re: Starling

The starlings feathers look wet Pops! Had it been raining? They are very obviously 'spotted' as opposed to speckled! In South Africa, we had the Red winged starling which was ever so handsome! Shimmering Blue Black feathers! I wish my dog didn't chase every bird she saw! She spoiled quite a number of shots on my weekend away! We have possums that run along the back fence! The other evening one was stunned by us putting on the back light to hang washing on the line! (Playing possum) The dog came out & stood right near it, little did she know about its presence! It continued to play possum for quite some time! It was only when it scampered off that the dog saw it responded!

[Ian]

Re: Starling

Since setting up our feeders last year I have seen starlings, sparrows, and tits, but the main visitors are wood pigeons and collared doves. Very occasionally we will get a jackdaw and a greater spotted woodpecker, but these are very very rare. Most of the time its the doves and pigeons. One of our cats like to sit right under the feeder

Ian

[Pops]

Re: Starling

No rain jocelyn ... they had been frolicking in the bird bath

[Josh Bear]

Re: Starling

love the second. Colours and context

Best Regards

Josh

[ash]

Re: Starling

Love these Pops, like you say you need some time to get set up and alot of patience for the right shots. We have had a bird table in our garden for the past 3 years and I can't honestly say ive ever seen a bird on it, might it be that there are high hedges and fences surrounding it so the birds cant see danger coming? I don't no. Any help would be great.
Also whats the best sort of food to put out?

cheers
Ash.

[Pops]

Re: Starling

You could move the table near to the hedge, that will give them a quick escape route.
You might also think about getting a couple of seed trays that screw onto the fence. They are only a couple of quid or so. Position them about a foot below the top of the fence. You can drop feed onto the tray and you can also hang a container from the tray giving them more choice. (they come with hooks especially for this).

There are so many different seeds available which suit different birds. Your best bet is to get a bag of mix to start with and wait to see which type appear. Fatballs are a favourite with most birds as are fruit pellets and nuts. Table scraps are fine for the trays as well.
At this time of year its best not to give access to whole peanuts for fear of the young choking on them. Put them into a narrow meshed container so they break portions off.
Oh and don't forget water. A proper birdbath is best of course but failing that I'm sure you can improvise.

The really important thing is to make sure the containers are never allowed to empty and the trays are replenished daily. They are very much creatures of habit. Once they find a source of food they will keep returning. If however the source dries up they will go elsewhere.